North America Outdoor Institute Newsletter March 2013

Published: March 6, 2013

Greetings!

Spring is the time for fresh starts and new beginnings and that is what we are planning here at NAOI. Our Board is working on freshening up our policies and procedures and preparing for a bright, exciting future. Our goal is to improve our services, our website and our opportunities for members. Thanks for being part of this growth.

This March we have classes on avalanche safety, wilderness survival and wilderness medical on tap. If there is a program you'd like that you don't see on our schedule or in your community, please contact our office and let us know so that we can do everything possible to meet your needs.

THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS PROVIDED BY NAOI ARE MADE POSSIBLE THANKS TO INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS! YOU CAN HELP ENSURE THESE SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES CONTINUE BY DONATING A PORTION OF YOUR PERMANENT FUND DIVIDEND.

These interactive seminars provide great information and hands-on activities for mountain enthusiasts including skiers, boarders, riders, mushers and anyone who travels, plays or works in mountain terrain! Geared towardsnovices

Visit SOLO's website for a full schedule of their courses, wilderness medical journals, and much more! www.soloschools.com

Want to schedule a Wild Med Class for your company, contact us today for a private course!

ARCTIC MAN IS COMING! & SO ARE THE ZOMBIES!

Get Ready! Arctic Man is coming April 11-14. Come join us for another Zombie Snowmobile Apocalypse and you could win an ABS Airbag, Adventure Medical Kit, and much more!

Wear an avalanche beacon and if the zombie's pick up your signal, you'll automatically be awarded a prize! Lots more information coming soon. Check it out at www.besnowsmart.org

Safety Tip

As the days grow longer and warmer, it's a great time to get outdoors! Just

remember that warming temperatures can impact the snow making it heavier and causing stress. Often, all it takes is a trigger to set off an avalanche. That trigger could be you or someone in your group. Avoid traveling or stopping in terrain traps such as dips, gulleys or ravines. Don't hang out at the base of a slope watching your buddies as you could be in the run-out zone should an avalanche unleash.

Turnagain Pass Avalanche 2009

Travel one at a time on exposed terrain and watch from a safe location. And always pay attention to avalanche forecasts and closed area signs. They are not issued to keep you from having fun, but rather to keep you safe. Visit our friends at the Alaska Avalanche Information Center or the Chugach Avalanche Information Center for current reports and updates.

Join NAOI for information on trails around the Mat-Su Valley as we start this seasons Radio Trail Reports thanks to support from Team CC and Mat-Su Vintage Racers.

The reports will air 3 times per day, 3 days per week on Q 99.7 and The Wolf 96.3, plus 2 times per day 3 days per week on 100.9Country Legends.

Learn To Return

LTR Training Systems is a Survival Training and Rescue Center located in Anchorage. LTR is a world-wide support company. Created in 1986 by Brian Horner, a U.S. Military Survival & Rescue instructor, they prepare industrial workers for Alaska's arduous work environment. Since that time, they have grown to offer programs internationally, to conduct our own research into the limits of human endurance, and to design innovative training programs specifically for "survival education." Check out their web page!

SPECIAL AWARDS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Thank you to Rasmuson Foundation for their generous grant award for NAOI to purchase equipment for safety training.

Thanks to generous support from the Arctic Slope Community Foundation, NAOI is taking the Wilderness Safety Challenge Game to the Arctic Slope!

We are excited to partner with APU Professor DB Palmer and students from the Masters Outdoor Studies Course on this project.

SPONSOR THANKS!

A huge thanks to our sponsors that have helped us to grow stronger and save more lives.

Adventure Medical Kits

Alaska Department of Public Safety

Alaska Division of Parks - SnowTrac

AMDS

Alaska Toy Rental

Arc'Teryx

BCA

Black Diamond

BRP/Skidoo

Dr. William Imlach

Edelrid

The Ludlow Foundation

Mat Valley Federal Credit Union

Mountain Hardwear

Ortovox

Team CC

Totem Ocean Trailer Express

Wendy's Alaska

The North America Outdoor Institute is a not-for-profit 501 C 3 organization. We do not receive regular funding from any source and depend on the generosity and support provided by Foundations, Sponsors andindividuals to make our programs and community outreach possible.